James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 539: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will report on the boundary review of local areas or the local elections and in particular Fingal; when proposed changes are expected to be proposed and implemented; the procedure for implementing proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8738/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Section 24 of the Local Government Act 1994 specifies that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government may by order, subject to Part V of the Local Government Act 1991, divide a local authority area into local electoral areas. Under Part V of the Local Government Act 1991, the Minister is required, before deciding whether to make an order under section 24 of the 1994 Act in relation to a local electoral boundary, to request a boundary committee to prepare a report. The committee must, if so requested, prepare and furnish to the Minister a report in writing including its recommendations, and the Minister must publish the report and have regard to it in deciding whether to make the order.

On 8 January 2008, I announced that I had established two boundary committees to review local electoral areas. The committees are required to report as soon as possible and, in any event, not later than 20 June 2008. The committees' website is www.electoralareacommittees.ie.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 540: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the boundary commission report on constituencies; the procedure to make appeals on the findings of the report as this Deputy is in receipt of a number of representations of concern regarding the unnatural proposed split of the town of Swords from Dublin north into another constituency of Dublin west which is the only town proposed for division by the boundary commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8739/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 553: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the delay in introducing legislation to give effect to the Dáil boundary commission report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8863/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 540 and 553 together.

The Constituency Commission presented its report on Dáil and European Parliament constituencies on 23 October 2007. Work is now underway on the drafting of the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008 which will, inter alia, provide for revision of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies in accordance with the Commission's report. The Bill will be published as soon as possible.